Image: Where dreams come true…
Last Updated: October 2025
Overview:
Chef Elias Taddesse managed to capture the public’s food imagination twice despite not having a stable home for his food. First, he did it with a great burger spot in Mt. Vernon also called Mélange, but he had the misfortune to open in the middle of the pandemic peak. Then, he did it with a take-out spot that added Ethiopian spices to fried chicken and other American soul food sides. Now, he has found a permanent spot with a large bar and sit-down seating. He has also brought all the concepts under a single roof and added tacos.
We were fans of the previous iterations. With the new spot, Taddesse made some changes. Devotees of the first version of the burger will be disappointed that he has not gone back to it. Instead, he has kept the more classic “American” interpretation of a burger with American cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomato, pickled red onions, and brown butter aioli. He also kept the National fried chicken sandwich. In this case, the nationality is Ethiopian in the form of doro wat saucing – plus kebe aioli, turmeric slaw, and a fried or hard egg. The Doro Soul Food fried chicken and sides are rolled over to the new place mostly intact (subbing fingers for wings). The big addition is the tacos that on first impression are pretty good. The flavor is built into the fillings, but you may want to add some side sauces to get some juiciness depending on which filling you pick. As with soul food, the tacos take the original idea of a corn or flour tortilla and choices like chicken, beef, or fried fish but then add twists from Ethiopian sources: shiro-marinated cod, doro wat pulled chicken; Ethiopian-style beef birria.
The space is the former Roy Boys on the backside of the Atlantic Plumbing building, and they kept the basic layout. The long bar has an opening to sidewalk space and a few sit-down tables inside. Hopefully drink sales will boost income to pay for the fancier digs. The closing of Haikan took one solid neighborhood spot away. Mélange adds one back.
Other Guidance: The restaurant is located on the ground floor of a modern building with no steps. Despite the focus on meat, batter, and sandwiches, GF and vegetarians can find options.
Summary:
Cuisine: Sandwiches/Salads
Neighborhood: Shaw
Address: 2108 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Website: https://melangefoods.com/
Reservations: Walk-in
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: Warren Rojas put it on a list of three places to be excited about. Tim highlighted the first version as one of three great burgers in the area. Tom flagged Doro Soul Food in March 2023.
Washingtonian: Preview of new spot. Preview of original spot.
DonRockwell.com: Original thread on Mélange.
WCP: Laura Hayes flagged The National as one of 12 sandwiches to try.
Big Schlim: Went back for the wings at Doro and lots of STAMP.
Barred in DC: He has been a fan since the beginning, as have his followers.